Tag: gouache

Drawvember 2019 Days 16-20

This five-day series is a tribute to illustrator extraordinaire Jean Giraud, aka Gir, or Moebius, who I discovered thanks to Virginie G. a few years ago when she convinced me to meet up with her in Toulon to see an exhibition of his work. Instant love!

Supersonic

Black ink drawing of a man flying, his arms straight alongside him, looking up. There are parallel straight and dotted lines at his waist down to indicate speed.

Lots of line work, using a ruler, for this soaring character.

Incantation

Black ink drawing of a plump robed character wearing a toque. He's standing up next to two very high-legged wingless birds with big eyes. His arm is raised and finger pointer.

I loved the mood of this comics strip. A chubby priest of sort casting a spell maybe, in a funny hat, with a couple long-legged chickens at his side. All of them somewhere in space perhaps, in a glass corridor? I used a black ink 0.05 mm Graphik line maker from Derwent, and black ink Pentel Brushpen for the large black areas.

Major (Fatal)

Black ink drawing of a tall thin man seen from the side, wearing a pointy helmet and carrying a leather back. His back is to the light and long parallel line stem from his feet and run throughout the artbook page and carry forward to the page opposite.

Another very recognisable character from Moebius, with his characteristic pointed hat, long slim figure and bag. I used a black ink 0.05 mm Graphik line maker from Derwent, and a ruler.

Firecamp

Gouache painting of a night desert scene where a group of people sit in circle around a fire at the foot of a large dune, next to tents and camels.

My first gouache painting and I absolutely loved doing it, and how it came out! I used some of the five Holbein Artists’ gouache tubes supplied in the November Sketchbox: burnt sienna, yellow ochre, ivory black and prussian blue.

(Watch the 22-second time lapse)

Cat

Black ink and gouache painting of a cat sitting at the center of a circle of light.

Mix of black ink 0.05 mm Graphik line maker from Derwent and leaf green Holbein Artists’ gouache tube supplied in the November Sketchbox.

(Watch the 40-second time lapse)

Reproduction of Hokusai’s ‘Sparrow & Magnolia’

On the second board I had, I set to reproduce Hokusai’s ‘Sparrow & Magnolia’.

I sketched it rather precisely, a somewhat tedious endeavour given the texture of the layer of white paint:
Side by side are the open book with reference image and the white board on which I drew a precise pencil outline. My pencil and rubber are visible above the book on the table.

Then I started to paint with gouache. Here, the sky and the wood of the magnolia branch:
Board on a wooden table next to a gouache paint tube and brush, an open book. I painted with gouache the sky and the wood of the magnolia branch.

Then, the sparrow in shades of orange and light milky orange:
Wet paint on the sparrow in shades of orange and light milky orange

Purple and red for the dark petals of the magnolia blossoms:
Purple and red gouache paint for the dark petals of the magnolia blossoms. Next to the board is the palette with the paint and the brush I'm using is resting on it.

I added white to my burgundy mix and enhanced the magnolia blossoms. Then used dark and light green for the leaves:
I added white to my burgundy mix to enhanced the magnolia blossoms. Then used dark and light green for the leaves. Paint tubes are visible on the table next to the wooden board I'm painting on.

Then I focused on the sparrow, using blue and white, and black:
The sparrow is now almost fully painted using blue and white, and black

With a Pentel black brushpen, I outlined everything and creating details on the tail of the sparrow, the branch and leaves.
Detail of the painting showing the bird and flowers around it. With a Pentel black brushpen, I outlined everything and created details on the tail of the sparrow, the branch and leaves.

Here is the resulting 20×50 cm framed painting:
Final piece signed and framed

Reproduction of Hokusai’s ‘Cuckoo & Azalea’

Having put a coat of white paint on a couple of tall and narrow wooden boards that were framed and used to represent some ugly and soulless floral arrangements, I set to reproduce Hokusai’s ‘Cuckoo & Azalea’, which I had drawn and colored before (notably using watercolor during Drawvember 2016).

I sketched it rather precisely. We see the texture of the layer of white paint on the wood, as I used a foam paint roller:
Large white wooden board on a table next to gouache paint tubes, a brush and tiny plastic palette. A book is open at the illustration that I use as reference. A precise pencil sketch is visible on the board.

Black gouache for the strong strokes on the cuckoo, shades of blue and white gouache for the sky:
Photo of the part of the board that shows the cuckoo flying downwards which I painted black, and the sky painted in shades of blue over white clouds

Then I painted the bush of azaleas, and used some grey for the shadows on the feathers:
Board with both bird and azalea bush painted. Paint tubes are visible on the wooden table.

Finally, I used a Pentel black brushpen for the bush outline and the details of leaves and flowers:
Azalea bush now finished with outlines in black. Paint tubes are visible on the table.

Resulting 20×50 cm framed painting:
Finished piece framed.